Motion-picture-film-developing machine



2o, 1927. 1,653,451 V. C. DE YBARROND MOTION PICTUREFILM DEVELOPING MACHINE Filed June 50. 1926 3 Sheets-Sheet l J/QZTOPNEK' Dec 20, V. C. DE YBARRONDO MTION PICTURE FILM `DEVELOPING MACHINE Filed June 30, 1926 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 /54 /50 :mymw 5 0 /37 o /52 /22 o/25 /M 74 Tref/@X Dec. 20, 1927.

V. C. DE. YBARRONDO MOTION PICT Filed June 30. 1926 URE FILM DEVELOPING MACHINE 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 @Trop/ff Patented Dee. 2o, 1927. y

i UNITED STATES VINCENT C. DE YBARRO'NDO, 0F LOSANGELES, CALIFORNIA..

MOTION-PICTURE-FILM-DEVELOPING MAGINE.

Application 'led June "30, 1926. Serial No. 119,524.

My invention relates to photographic film developing apparatus and has as its broad purpose the' provision of a novel machine for continuously developing motion picture 5 film. Theword developing is thus used broadly to indicate all the steps through which it is necessary to pass negative or positive film after it has been exposed or printed and before it can be handled in the light lo without injury to the film. 'l In the motion picture industry it is necessary to develop very long strips of film. The machine for developing this film must be designed so that the tension of the film is l5` kept uniformly at a fnormal tension. If the film becomes loose there is danger of tangling and if it becomes too tight there is a danger of the film being broken. One ofthe big problems in such film developing machines is the provision of a means for properly responding to the tension placed upon the film) in the machine so that excessive tension and resultant breakage of the film can be positively avoided and so that lthere will be no slack.

It is an object of my invention to provide a machine for continuously developing motion picture film in which the tension placed upon the film is substantially uniform and normal in all parts of the machine and throughout the developingprocess carried.

on thereby. E

p It is another object to .providea kmachine for continuously developingmotion picture matically compensating film handling mechanism.

Yet another object of ,my invention is lto provide a machine for continuously developing motion picture film in certain steps of the operation of which a continually fresh supply of liquid treating agent is supplied to the film.

Another Objectis to provide a machine for continuously developing motion picture ilm which can be operated in the light with out injury to the film being developed.

A difficulty with the driers of many developing machines is thatthe film some-A veloping motion picture film having a novel film having a novel electroresponsive auto,

-out in the tubes 18.

drier in which the film cannot possibly come in contact withitself. i

Other objectsy and advantages will be made manifest in the following description and accompanying drawings, in which- Fig. 1` is an elevational View of the developing machine of my invention.

Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view/taken 'on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

' Referring specifically to they drawings, 10

indicates a preferred embodiment of the motion picture developing machine of my invention. The machine l0 has a light tight head box 11 upon one end of which a light tight film reel case 12 is adapted to be secured so as to communicate with the boX.1l.

. A reel of film 13 is pivotally'mounted inside the reel case 12. A motion picture film 15, contained upon the reel 13, is fed through the developer and wound upon a winding reel 16 which is provided with a suit able friction drive (not shown) which is adapted toA maintain a constant rotational torque upon the winding reel 16.

Treating tubes 18 are provide which communicates at their upper ends with the interior of the box 11.' The various steps of treatment through which the film is passed in the` developing machine 10 are carried Theiirst three of these steps, to wit, developing, washing, and iixing, of the film must be accomplished in liquid bats of suitable liquid treating agents. The last step is the drying of the film which is accomplished by passing the film though a current of warm air. In the preferred embodiment of my developing machine illustrated in Fig. 1 there are ten of the tubes 18. The first seven of the tubes 18 are closedv at the bottom ends and provided with windows .20 to permit observation of the UJI interior of the tubes 18. The 'vet steps in the developing process are :arried out .n these seven tubes. it being immaterial to the process of my invention what livision ie made of these tubes between :he three wet steps mentioned above. `The Aast three it the tubes 18 are open at their oottom ends which communicate with an airtight drier box 21. An air blower :2 is iiriven ov ln electric motor 23 and mpels .i :urrent lit air through an electric heater :Ll and through a suitable conduit 25 into the tlrier oox :1. Hot air blown into the drier vox :1 r'rom the blower 22 passes upwardly through the tubes 18. connecting with the iirier pox "l and into the developer head box i1. escaping from the upper right-hand corner or the pox 11 through a vent pipe :8. 'he purposes of the various steps through which the ilm must be passed. in order to prepare it tor handlingr in the light without `lanlage vro the lilih. are well known :n the art and heed not be Jfurther described in tiiis speciiication.

Each of the tulies 18 which contains liduid is provided with a liduid-circulating svs tem 28. In Fig. 1 but one circulating system 28 is shown. this being connected tor purpose of illustration with the extreme lett-hand tube 18.

ln each system 28 a treating agent reserve tank 30 is provided. i iiuihii .il has all .il-

let pipe 32 which extends yiownwardiv 1n the tank 30. opening near the oottom thereof. A pipe 33 connects the exhaust end or the pump 31 with the lower end or a tube L8. An electric motor 34 drives the pump -52 so that the treating agent in the reserve tank .'50 is drawn therefrom and forced ;nto the lower end of the tube 18. .bis the level in the tuoe 18 approaches the top thereor. the treating agent will overiiow through an ever-now pipe 3o into a funnel 86. which is supported upon the tube 18. and downwardlv through a nose 37 into the reserve tank 30. n case two yir more of the tubes 18 contain the saine ,dnd of treating agent they mav Je connected iogether at the top and iiottom ends and circuit 28 may lidJnaint-alned 'hrough nis plurality of tubes 18 by isc or a single reserve tank 80. pump :i1 and inotor Jia.

ln passing the iilm i5 from lhe reel through the developing machine 10 for 'he purpose of treating the tilin 1n the tuiie At is desirable that the iilin pass iilownwardiv and upwardly in each iit the tunes 8 io l'orin a loop therein. For 'he purpose ilY lilaintaining and forming these loops in the tubes 18. a series or' electro-responsive nini feed iilechanisins l0 are provided upon the head box 11. As shown Ln Figs. and 5. each feeding mechanism si) .ias a nearing bracket 4:1 secured on the *.nner tace or the rear wall l2 or' the `)ox .1. he bearing bracket #l1 has a long heck L3 which extends out into the chamber el it :he oox 1 ind `:entrai tiore so. ltotatablv disposed :i the riore so is a :hatt 46. the rear end of viiich passes through an opening Lil' in the `ear vali i2. small ball bearing 48 is iisposed about the shaft 46 at the front end it the neck 58. i h'lm drive pulley sprocket si) 1s liisposeol over the shaft 1G against the iearing s. .i clutch disc 50 is slipped over -he shaft i6 so that a friction tace thereof sears snugiv lig'ainst the outer iace of the sprocket la). .i collar 51 is pinned upon the iront end or the shaft hi6 and a compression spring .i2 is compressed between the clutch lisc .i0 and the collar 51 so as to urge the lisc a() eonstahtlv into trictional contact with Yhe oullev sprocket it). .1 large spur gear i is secured to the rear end orl the shaft 46 ind a small '.iall hrustbearing is disposed ietween the hun or the spur gear 55 and the caring iracitet el. -in electric motor 5G s rnounted upon i stand .'57 rigidly secured i he iox i. The motor 56 has a spur lnioh .e 'vlilch neslies with the gear 55 -.i hat 'he inotor io" when energized will "irate ne sllart (3. iuide rollers GO are Llouhted ;n inv suitable manner within the ilix so as to maintain the iilin 15 in engagement vith -ile drive pulleys Lll). A

irht iliilev 'i1 s adapted to lie disposed :i ilie iight it each loop oi ille iillll 15 .lili i i'eiglit rl 1s seciirell te ille axle el Aach nuiiev 'il .iv a clevis 63 so that each :ullev o1 `vill maintain a tension upon the irms or the loop vh which it is disposed.

-s shown in if lgs. 2 and 8. a switch G5 is irovlded .n :he iottom of each tube 18. Lach switch 5 comprises a plurality of ontact elements i6 which are mounted in Yhe iottoin [it each tune 18 so as to be inplated thererroin. -lie contacts GG are so lisposccl that `rlich a weight 62. which is oi` l .'neraliic nature. reaches a certain low evel ;n it tune .8 the weight 62 will contact ind electrically `onnect the elements (3G olr ne switch 'i5 '.n the Liottoin of the tube 18 or i purpose `vhlcn will be described later. signal .ight il? :s mounted in a. receptacle i8 'ipoh each `i the tubes 18 hear the lower nd tliereor.

, jig. t are iiagralninatically illustrated "he electrical `ii'culls which `:onibine willi "he :eeil mechanisms sii and the switches iii `i Avirili he llecrro-responsive apparatus lesci'iiitlon lil' the .plall iiiiil the lullev:on or which .s as ioilows:

'ii- 'he salle or slhlplicltiv onlv llllee loops il' *he iiin .Zi :ll'e shown. these lieing indi- `liteil iv 'lie numerals (l. T2 and T8. All

.iitlal feed ileciianlsin 10. indicated by ille iuinei'al e. s .lisposed between the reel lil ind the loop (1: a second feeding niecliiinisiii Y', s provided between the loops '1 and T2:

hird '.'eeding thechanlsm .'ii is provided iet-weep the .oops i2 aiid T3; and a l'ourill eeiiihg iiechahisin provided lielweeli the loop 73 and the winding reel 16. Suspended in the bights of the loops 71, 72 and 73 are contact weights 62, indicated by the special numerals 81, 82 and 83. Disposed beneath the contact Weights 81, 82 and 83 are switches 65, indicated by the special numerals 84, 85 and 86.

Eaich of the motors 56 of the film feed mechanisms 74, 75, 76 and 77 has a feed conductor which joins aground conductor 91. These motors also have feed conductors 92, 93, 94 and 95, respectively, each of which conductors has connected in series therein a rheostat 96, a switch 97, and a battery 98, and said conductors then joining the conductor 91 as shown. The batteries 98, for the purpose of illustration` are here shown Ias threecelled batteries. The ground conductor 91 is connected to a terminal of a six-celled battery 100, the opposite terminal of which is connected through a bus conductor 101 to a contact element 66 of each of the switches 84,-

85 and 86. A contact element 66 in each of the switches 84, 85 and 86 is connected, as shown, through a conductor 105, having a signal lamp 67 inserted in series therein, to a conductor 95. Another contact element 66 of each of the switches 84 and 85 is connected through a conductor 106 having a signal lamp 67 inserted therein to the conductor 94. Another Contact member 66 of theswitch 84 is connected through a conductor 107 having a signal lamp 67 to a feed conductor 93. .The connections of the conductors 105, 106 and 107 with the condulctors95, 94 and 93, respecti7vely, are on the motor side of the switches 9 The operation of my invention is as follows:

A threader strip of film of short length is kept in the machine at all times. All slack is drawn from the threader films sol that it assumes the path between the feeder mechanisms 74 to 77, inclusively, which is indicated by the dotted lines 110.

When it is desired to develop a reel of motion picture film, such as the reel 13, the reel is placed in the reel case 12 and the latter is mounted upon the left-hand end of the box 11 as shown in Fig. 1. The outer end of the film 15 is then connected to the feeder film which at this timepasses through the developing machine 10 and is lsecured to the hub of the winding reel 16. The switches 97 are at this time open and the weights 81,

82 and 83 are suspended from their respecmembers 66 thereof. The current of the battery will thus be caused to flow through the bus conductor 101, the switch 84, the conductors 105, 106 and 107, t-he lamps 67, the feed conductors 95, 94 and 93, the rheostat 96, the-motors of the feed mechanisms 75, 76 and 77 and the ground conductor 91, back to the battery 100. Thus the lamp 67 will be illuminated, giving a visual signal to the operator of the developing machine that the loop 71 has reached its lowermost limit. Also the motors of the feed mechanisms 75, 76 and 77 will be energized by the source of electricity of higher potential than the source of electricity causing the operation of the feed mechanism 74'. This will cause the mechanisms 75, 76 and 77 to feed the film 15 from the loop 71 at a greater rate of speed than the mechanism 74 is feeding the film 15 into the loop 71. This will draw"ihe weight 81 out of conta/ct with the elements 61 of the switch 84, thus shutting off the supply of current from the battery 100 through the circuit just described. The operator at this time will close the switch 97 `rof the conductor 93 which will cause the motor of the feed mdchanismv 75 to be energized by the battery 98 of the conductor 93.

Thus 'a slightly lower voltage will be delivered to the motor of the mechanism 75 by its battery 98 than is delivered to the motor of the mechanism 74 by its battery 98. This will cause the mechanism 75 to feed film out. of the loop 71 at a slightly less rate of speed than that at which it is fed into the loop 71 by the mechanism 74. Thus the weight` 81 will be lowered at an extremely low rate of Speed toward Contact lwith the elements 66 of the switch 84.

In the meantime the feed mechanisms 76 and 77 will be halted by automatic breaking of the switch 84 and the operation of the mechanism 75 will be forming the loop 72. When the loop 72 is of such length that the weight 82 contacts the elements -66 of the switch 85, current will flow from the battery 100 through the bus conductor 101, the switch 85, the conductors and 106 and their signal lamps 67, through the conductors 94 and 95 and their rheostat 96, through the motors of the feed mechanisms 76 and 77 and through the ground conductor 91 back to the battery 100. The feed mechanisms 76 and 77 will thus be operated at a faster rate than the feed mechanism 75, thus `causing the loop 72 to be shortened and the weight` 82 to be withdrawn from contact with the elements 66 .of the switch 85, thus breaking the circuit just traced and again stopping 'the feed mechanisms 76 and 77. With the energizing of the two lamps 67 of the conductors 105 and 106 the operator will be aware that the loop 72 has been formedY and he will 'close the switch 97 of the condluctor 94 which will cause the battery 98 thereof to lili energize the motor ot the *leed mechanism F6.

The rheostat 96 ot the conductor 94 is setto insert therein a slightly greater resistance than that of the rheostat 96 of the conductor 93 so that the mechanism T6 will feed the film at a slightly less speed than the mechahisin 75. lVhen the loop T3 is formed the weight 83 will close the switch S6 and cause current from the battery .00 '.o tlow through the bus conductor 101. :he switch 86, the conductor 105 aiid its signal lamp 67. through the conductor 95 and its rheostat 96. through the inotor ot the mechanism ."7 to the ground conductor 91 from which it will return to the battery 100. The feed mechanism 77 will thus he operated at a greater speed than the feed mechanism T6 which will cause the weight 83 to be drawn out ot Contact with the switch 86.

With the lighting ot' the signal lamp 67 of the conductor 105 the operator will be aware that the loop 73 has heen completely formed and he will then close the switch 970i the conductor 95. Due to the setting ot the rheostat 96 in the conductor 95 at a greater resistance than the rheostat 96 in the conductor 94, the teed mechanism T7 will be operated at a slightly less speed than the feed mechanism 76. It will be noted that the progressive decreasing ot the speeds or' the feed mechanisms from lett to right or' the apparatus insures that the loops T1. 72 and 73 will be maintained at approximately their ull length at a constant tension throughout the developing process or the developing machine 10. The weights 81, 82 and 83 slowly move downwardly until they contact their respective switches 84. S and 86.

By reference to the circuits alcove described as being set up by such contact. it will be seen that the group of l'eed mechanisms following any of these switches will all have their4 speed temporarily increased by such contact by the paralleling or the battery 100 with each of the batteries 98 which are energizing that group of feed mechanisms. This acceleration causes a shortening of the loop which has reached suii'lcient length to cause the switch therepelow to be closed and also causes a feeding ot' the eX- cess film drawn from this loop through the entire remainder ot the apparatus. without effecting the length of the succeeding loops. ln case all excepting the outermost pair of contacts '66 in each ot the switches 84 and were dispensed with. the feature ot' accelerating all of the feeding mechanisms t'ollowing one ot' these switches when it is closed, would be changed so that merely the next succeeding feeding mechanism following the switch which is closed would be accelerated above its normal speed.

As shown in Fig. 1, a switch board 112 is provided for Carrying the rheostats 96 and 'he `witches 'oi' ipei'atihg the decirofesponsive ipparatus il. `1`he conductors :onveving electricity 'o the various electrifaliv mei-ated elements it inv :nvention nav te l:onveved through the conduit 113 `:hewn :n this ligure.

.i Fig. 1s shown a modified form or apdaratus tor fontrolling the length ot' ilie voops ot tihn which form in the tubes 18 of 'he leveloping nachlne. ln this modifica- '.ion i light tight nox *0 has shafts 121 -ransverselv ournaled :hereupon and pro- "ilied it 'heir fear ends with large pinion ears -z2 `-vnlch are connected by sinail pilions suitaplv mounted pv brackets upon he )ox :l0 so that the gears l22 will rotate Yn ihison it the saine speed in the same iirection. ,l aioior -25 drives one ot ihese nions .53 to cause all ot the gears 122 lo 'tiiis rotate. he gears l22 drive the shafts 1 -hrough :riction .iutches 124 so that irive aiillevs -"6 which are mounted upon he `:hatts '.21 will feed the lilm inot `nowni through the developing machine so vhat .oops :vill lie formed between each adacent pair -it irlve uulievs 126 and hand iown 1n :he treating tubes 18. All ot the snatts A21. with the exception ot' the lirst ine it said shafts. .tre provided with arms 227 which ire adapted to be engaged by ores ,1:8 it' solenolds 129. rl`he engage- ,hent .it the l:ores -x28 with the arms 127 ioids the shafts L21 from rotating in re- `ponse to the triction between the gears 122 ind the friction clutches i241.

timed switch mechanism 130 has a gear vheel L31 which is driven by a worin l32 rotated through a friction clutch 124 by one :he pinions 123. The gear 131 is thus `frounded to the trame ot the machine 120 ind has a contact arm i311 which extends devond the perlpherv or the gear wheel 131. .1n arcuate insulated contact support 136 :s -lisposed adiacent to the gear wheel 131 ind carries contacts -37 which are adjustipiv mounted thereon. l`he contacts 137 ire connected through conductors 138 hav- .ng oatterles 136 to connect the solenoids .29 so that as the gear wheel 131 rotates n an anti-clockwise direction the solenoids .29 will oe energized sutt'lciently trom left to right.

Vhcn ".he `iperation oit` the machine is Iommenced. a tlireader strip of lilni is disaosed across the upper races ot the drive duilevs f6 and weight pulleys. slinilal to he weight pullev 61. are disposed over the jim oetween each adiacent pair of pulleys -"6. The motor 125 is energized so as to lause the rotation or the gears 122 aiid the vlnions vVith this rotation of the pili- ,ons l23 the gear wheel 131 will commence rotate n in intl-clockwise direction. The arm 134 will be so set as to have a given iistance to move oeiore it contacts the face loop ofthe contact elements 137. The first of the shafts 121 being free to move in response to the friction between the clutch 124 and .its adjacent gear wheel 122, the film will be fed into the first tube 18 by the first pulley 126. When the film. has been thus fed to produce a loop in the first tube 18 of predetermined length, the arm 134 will contact the iirst of the contacts 137, setting up a circuit from the first battery 136 to the iirst solenoid 129, through the frame lof the machine to the gear wheel 131, the contact arm 134, a contact 137 and a conductor 138, back to the-first battery 136.

In Fig. 5 the parts of the machineare shown in a position which they occupy at this moment of the operation. ,The first solenoid has just been energized, causing it to withdraw its core 128 from obstructing position relative to the first arm 127, thus releasing the second of the shafts 121 so that it will be rotated by its gear Wheel 122. The others of the contacts 137 are properly spaced so that a proper length of loop of film will be formed in each of the tubes 18 so that the next pulley 126 will be freed to operate. When the last of the solenoids 129 has been energized and all of the shafts 121 are rotating in perfect synchronism, the clutch 133 may be disengaged, thus rendering the switch mechanism 130 inoperative during the remainder ofl the developing operation. Due to the perfect synchronism of the drive pulleys 126,. the length of the in the tube 18 will remain constant throughout' the developing operation. In case of any unforeseen slippage in any of the friction clutches 124, the shaft 121 thereof may be rotated to replace the drive' pulley 126 thereof in proper position relative to the other pulley wheels 126 by manually rotating the shaft 121 by means of a handle i140 which is provided upon the front end of each of the shafts 121. It will thus be seen that in the modified form of my invention illustrated in Fig. 5 I have provided a simple electrically controlled mechanism which automatically feeds the loop of given length into each of the treating tubes of the developing machine, and thereafter maintains this loop at constant length until the completion of .the developing process. When the' end of the film on the feeding reel is reached, this end being fixed to the reel, it will hold the first of the pulleys 126 against rotation. The other of the pulleys 126 continuing to rotate, the loop in the iirst of the tubes 18 will be drawn therefrom, and when the film is stretched directly from the first to the second of the pulleys 126 the second pulle 126 will be held against rotation, there y causing the loop in the second of the tubes 18 to be drawn therefrom by the continued rotation of the third of the pulleys 126. This process is continued until all of the loops of film are drawn from their respective .treating tubes and the film is stretched in substantially a straight line across the upper face of the pulley 126.

In Figs. 6 and 7 is shown a modified form of drier which may be'used in place of the drier shown incorporated with the developing machine in Fig. 1. In this form of drier 150 an air-tight box 151 is provided having bearings 152 provided upon its opposite ends in which a gang shaft 153 is jour naled. A gang shaft rotatably supportsa series of inner spaced dry pulleys 154, each of which is provided with. a Worm gear 155 and which is positioned upon the shaftV 153 by collars 156 secured to the shaft 153. A worm shaft 158 is transversely mounted in the box 151 opposite each of the Worm gears )155. A worm 159 is provided upon each of the worm shafts 158so as to engage with the adjacent worm gear 155. Each of said Worm shafts 158 has a driving gear 160 which drives said shaft through a friction clutch 161 and which is driven in turn through a pinion 162 by an electricmotor '163. The gang shaft 153 is spaced some distance from the forward wall 165 so that the box 151 and van vidler pulley 166 is mounted upon the wall 165 opposite each of the drive pulleys 154. A traveling weight pulley 170, having a Weight 1 71 attached thereto by a clevis 172, is provided for each of the loops which it lis desired to form in each of the drier boxes 151. A film 15 may be passed into the box 151 through an opening 174 and over the iirst of the pulleys 154. From this pulley 154 the film 15 passes downwardly, as is clearlyr shown in Fig. 7 around the first of the weight pulleys 170 and upwardly around the rst of the idler pulleysv 166; thus the first loop 176 is formed.

It will be noted that the two arms 177 and 178 of the loop 176 are disposed some distance apart due to the WideoperatiOn of the lupper ends of these arms, thus making it almost impossible for the film 15 to come into contact with' itself in one of the loo s 17 6. This is of great advantage because tiie surface of a considerable part of the film in the drier is in a semi-viscous state, and in case the filmwas to come in contact with Jrains a uniform Lension iiioon ine nlm throughout the developer :it ail 'ames iiiir ing the developing process. A.loreoven ov the improved continuons circuit or' :rearing lliiid which is a feature or' inv nvention` i am able to reduce the size or :nacnine required for developing motion `)icriire nlm and permit this developing io ie iccomplished willi a. much smaller yiiiantitv or treating fliiid than has heretofore ieen required,

I claim as my invention:

l. A film handling macnine :omni-isms: a pliiialil)v of lilni feeding' necnanisms iiisposed so lliat a si'i'ip or' lilni nav iass :ierially l'lnoiigli engagement 'virii iil if `aid mechanisms; means for nerating :aid mechanisms at progressiveiv eci-easing rates of speed so than :i Aooi) t fi'iin s formed between eaeii adiacent Oair /ir leeci mechanisms: and eiectro-iesnonsive .neans l lll )l lll loll ,lllCllllSlllH (VllSUOFlll lll f1 fiven iiiecvioii rom Aacn ioon `iviien said on ieaenes :i areiiereriiiined ieng'ili.

1 Aesiiinonv 'viiei-eor. i have aereiinto er xiv ianci in .,os angeles. California` 'ins :mi iav ir imei AU26.

""*CENT 1a iBARRODO. 

